Glider swing



Sept. 6, 1938. L. KNIGHT 271299140 GLIDER SWING Original Filed July 15, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor Spt. 6, 1938. L. KNEGHT 2,129,140

GLIDER SWING Original Filed July 15, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 0 2 a 1 75 vi a Z9 w my my 1 9 Inventor laureZ may):

Patented Sept. 6, 1938 UNITED STATES GLIDER SWING Laurel Knight,

Amityville, N. Y.

Application July 15, 1935, Serial No. 31,475 Renewed May 6, 1938 5 Claims.

This invention relates to glider swings.

The primary feature of the present invention is to construct a swing that maybe operated by the occupants of the swing thereby eliminating .5 the necessity of children being pushed or propelled by others when they are playing.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a swing of the character referred to that is strong, compact and durable, affording much entertainment and wholesome exercise for the children. and that is comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists of a novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein is disclosed an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations, and modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denoted corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a. detailed vertical section through the swing constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detailed section taken substantially on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken through the upright members of the frame above the seat board.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of a portion of the top of the supporting member.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A indicates generally the frame from which the glider swing of the present invention is suspended. This frame consists of a horizontal base 5 adapted to rest on the ground. Rising from each side of the base 5 and from the middle thereof are a pair of standards 6. Each of the side standards 6 are braced with a pair of diagonal props l, 8. The lower ends of these props are secured to the ends of the base, while their upper ends are secured to the standards 6. Bridging the space between the standards 6 is a cross brace 9 the opposite ends of which are securedrespectively to the upper ends of the pair of standards 6. To the center of the cross brace 9 is nailed or otherwise secured as at H) the center of a cross bar I I. This cross bar H extends at right angles to the cross brace 9 and is located in a plane between the side standards 6.

The upper ends of a pair of spaced cables I2,

l3 are secured in the eye bolts l4, I respectively, which bolts are anchored to the ends of the cross bar H. The plane of these cables l2, I3 is at right angles to the suspending cables as will hereafter appear.

The swing frame indicated generally at B in the form of the invention illustrated is made of pipe, but it is within the contemplation of the invention to use other steel shapes or wood in constructing the frame. At rest, the frame B is suspended in a vertical plane and all members thereof are disposed in the same plane. The frame B is made of a top rail l6 and. a bottom rail ll disposed in parallel relation. A pair of vertical upright members l8, l9 are disposed between the top and bottom rails inwardly of the ends thereof.

The opposite ends of upright member I8 is rigidly connected with the top and bottom rails by the T-shaped fittings 20. The opposite ends of upright member I9 is likewise connected with the top and bottom rails by like fittings 2 I.

Bridging the space between the uprights l8, I9 is the fulcrum bar 22 and the ends of this fulcrum bar are connected to the centers of the upright members I8, l9 by the T-shaped fittings 23. It will be seen that top and bottom rails, 18, ll and upright members i8, l9 and the fulcrum bar 22 all lie in the same vertical plane when the swing is at rest.

The center of the seat board 24 rocks upon the fulcrum bar 22 so that the opposite ends thereof project on the opposite sides of the frame B. For the purpose of rockably mounting the seat board 24 on the fulcrum bar 22 there is provided a U-shaped bearing plate the depending crown 25 thereof embracing fulcrum bar 22. The margins of the legs 29 of the bearing plate are nailed as at 27 to the lower face of seat board 24.

On the free opposite ends of the bottom rail ll are secured the T-shaped fittings forming the sleeves 28. The free ends of the top rail I9 are likewise equipped with T-shaped fittings providing sleeves 29. The sleeve 28, 29 on one side are in alignment with each other while the sleeves 28, 29 on the other side are also in alignment.

For suspending the swing frame B, it is preferred to use a single length of cable C. The ends of the single length of cable C are secured to the spaced eye bolts 30 anchored in spaced relation to the top cross brace 9 of the support A. This single length of cable C when suspending the swing frame B is formed into the vertical, lateral suspending members 3|, 32. suspending member 3| is trained through the sleeves 29, 28

on the one side while suspending member 32 is trained through the sleeves 29, 28 on the other side of the frame. 'The single length of cable C then is extended across the bottom of frame B forming a horizontal length 33 which is below and parallel to the bottom rail I I.

On each projecting end of the seat board 24 is an opening 34 and through these openings intermediate portions of cables I2, I3 extend. The ends of cables I2, I3 project below the seat board 24 and on these ends are formed the abutments or knots 35.

The lateral suspending members 3|, 32 of the It will also be understood that the frame B'is' rigid.

In operating the swing of the present invention one child sits straddling each end of the seat board 24 using the top rail I6 of the frame to hold themselves with the hand and the bottom rail serves as a perch for their feet. To start the swing in operation toward the left referring to Figure l of the drawings, the child on the right pushes bottom rail I! with his feet and pulls with his hands top rail I6. During this movement the child on the left remains inert neither pushing with the feet nor pulling with the hands. On the swing backwards from that described above, the child in the left pulls on top rail I6 and pushes bottom rail I! with his feet while the chid on the right remains inert. Such exertions alternately by the child on the right and the child on the left will cause a swinging action on the frame B. During the swinging action the seat board 24 remains substantially in a horizontal plane. Cables I2, I3 serve to provide a back for each end of the seat board to prevent the children from falling off the seat board.

Since there are free portions of the cable members I2, I3 depending below the level of seat board 24 the cables I2, I3 move through the openings 34 as'these members alternately become loose and taut when-the swing is in operation. With the ends of members I2, I3 thus arranged as the swing proceeds in one" direction the cable at the back of the child will exert no pressure, while at the same time the cable on the other end of the seat board becomes taut and likewise no pressure is exerted on the childs back, since the body of the child leans in the same angle as the cable.

While the cables I2, I3 and the single length C are illustrated in the form of a limp rope it is within the scope of the present inventon to use chains'in theirstead.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. In a swing, an upright rigid frame including an upright member, a pair of horizontal members at the ends of the upright member, and a third horizontal member between the pair of horizontal members, a pair of flexible lateral suspension members connected with the ends of the pair of horizontal members for supporting the frame so as to swing back and forth, a seat board fulcrumed solely at its center across an intermediate portion of the third horizontal member between the suspension members and projecting from both sides thereof to provide an equipoised seat on both sides of the frame, and flexible means for engaging the opposite ends of said seat board to limit movement about said center fulcrum.

2. In a swing, an upright rigid frame disposed in vertical position at rest, a pair of limp lateral suspension members connected with the ends of the frame for supporting the frame so as to swing back and forth, and a seat board fulcrumed at its center across an intermediate portion of the frame between the suspension members and projecting from both sides thereof to provide a seat on both sides of the frame, a pair of flexible members disposed in a plane at right angles to the suspending members extending loosely through the seat board one at each end thereof, and means on the lower ends of said flexible members to provide abutments.

3. In a swing, an upright rigid frame, a pair of lateral suspension members connected with the ends of the frame for supporting the frame so as toswing back and forth, and a seat board fulcrumed across an intermediate portion of the frame between the suspension members and projectin'g from both sides thereof to provide a seat on both sides of the frame, a pair of flexible members disposed in a plane at right angles to the suspending members extending loosely through the seat board one at each end thereof, means on the lower ends of said flexible members to provide abutments, and said frame including parallel top and bottom rails and a pair of uprights connected to the top and bottom rails all lying in the same plane as the suspension members.

4. In a swing, an upright rigid frame, a pair of lateral suspension members connected with the ends of the frame for supporting the frame so as to swing back and forth, and a seat board fulcrumed across an intermediate portion of the frame between the suspension members and projecting from both sides thereof to provide a seat on both sides of the frame, a pair of flexible members disposed in a plane at right angles to the suspending members extending loosely through the seat board one at each end thereof, means on the lower ends of said flexible members to provide'abutments, said frame including parallel top and botton rails and a pairof uprights connected to the top and bottom rails all lying in the same plane as the suspension members, and an overhead support for the flexible members and the support members.

5. In combination; an overhead support for a swing; a pair of flexible suspension members secured at their upper ends to the overhead support; a rigid frame including an upright member, a pair of cross members secured-to the upright member, said suspension members also connected one to each end of at least one of the'pair of cross members, and a third cross member securedto the upright member between the pair of cross members; a single seat board fulcrumed at its center only to the third cross member 'having the ends one on each side of the upright member; and flexible means secured at one end to the overhead member and engaging the opposite ends of the'seat board to limit movement of the seat board about said center fulcrum.

LAUREL KNIGHT. 

